This article is from page 3 of the 2007-10-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
WORKERS at Moneypoint are pre- paring to strike after talks between the Technical Engineering and Elec- trical Union (TEEU) and the ESB failed to resolve a dispute over pay arrears and security of employment for 200 Polish workers.
The workers employed by ZRE Katowicz, a subcontracting com- pany working on the environmen- tal retro-fit project at the 900 mega- watt station, have not been paid for six weeks and were turned away
from the power station when they turned up for work on Friday morn- ing last.
A second shift of the Polish work- ers was turned away yesterday morn- ing as Lentjes, the German-based company employed by the ESB to carry out the €384 million project, had terminated ZRE’s contact.
In serving strike notice, TEEU’s General Secretary Designate, Eamon Devoy, warned the ESB that should it “continue to refuse to engage in meaningful discussions” the union would immediately initiate a cam-
paign of industrial action.
It is now feared that if other mem- bers of the union come out in support of their colleagues and the action escalates, there could be a knock-on effect for local power supplies.
“A very serious and disturbing de- velopment has taken place on the ESB Moneypoint site with the con- sequences that approximately 200 workers, members of the TEEU, are being displaced from their place of work to be replaced by other workers without consultation or discussion with their union.
“It appears from our informa- tion that it is proposed to replace the workers by engaging a new sub-contractor with an alternative workforce in breach of your legal obligations under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Regulations), and in a disgraceful disregard of any ob- ligations to the employees or proce- dures,’ the union told the ESB in a letter last night.
The letter added that the work- ers had not been paid their wages for over six weeks and been denied some of their other legal entitlements
for Over a year.
As aresult, some face destitution.
In a statement, the ESB said it had met all its obligations including proper payments to its contractor Lentjes, who sub-contracted ZRE to carry out mechanical works on the project.
“ESB at all times acted in accord- ance with the terms of its contract and at all times upheld Irish and EU employment law,’ it said.
Both parties are to take part in bi- lateral meetings this morning at the Labour Relation Commission.